here comes the unmistakable silhouette of the much-loved Charlie Chaplin on stage at the Opéra de Lausanne! German choreographer Mario Schröder created this first ballet dedicated to Charlie Chaplin in Leipzig in 2010, as a tribute to the man, the artist and his universal film-making that left an indelible imprint on the history of the seventh art. From his poverty-stricken childhood to his Hollywood triumph, from his love affairs to his exile, Chaplin’s story is told through his life and his roles. He is embodied through a Charlie/Charlot, creator/creature duet, in a clever mise en abîme emotionally recounting the birth of the legendary vagabond.
To evoke Chaplin in a way devoid of humor and poetry would be to miss the spirit of his tender, satirical gaze. Living up to the spirit of its illustrious model, the ballet induces both wonderment and laughter, such as Adolf Hitler’s irresistible dance with the globe. It subtly questions the artist’s place in society, as well as the excesses of technology and totalitarian policies.
The spectacular set design immerses viewers in a 1920s cinema. On stage, a screen flashes back to films such as Modern Times and The Dictator, bringing characters to life through the magic of shadow puppets. Danced to music as varied as that of Benjamin Britten, Arvo Pärt, Samuel Barber, John Adams and Richard Wagner, this ballet will be performed by the entire company of the Opéra national du Rhin Ballet.
First performance on October 31, 2010 in Leipzig by the Leipziger Ballet
Charlie Chaplin™ © Bubbles Inc. S.A.
Musics
Kurt Schwertsik, Peteris Vasks, John Adams, Samuel Barber, Johannes Brahms, Benjamin Britten, Charlie Chaplin, Hans Werner Henze, Charles Ives, Ruggero Leoncavallo, Colin Matthews, Alfred Schnittke, Richard Wagner
Born in Innsbruck, Paul Zoller first worked as an architect, after studying at the Hochschule für angewandte Kunst in Vienna, the University of Michigan and the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin. After winning numerous prizes, he founded the “the poor boys enterprise” group of architects. He then turned to directing, which he studied with Erich Wonder at the Akademie der bildenden Künste in Vienna. He has since worked with numerous directors – Andreas Homoki, Lorenzo Fioroni, Vera Nermirovna, Philipp Himmelmann, Thilo Reinhardt, David Hermann, Jetzke Mijens- ken, Julia Hölscher, as well as choreographers Mario Schroeder and Helene Blackburn – and has performed on the stages of the Deutsche Oper and Komische Oper in Berlin, the Opernhaus in Zurich, the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, the BAM in New York, the Edinburgh Festival, the Opéra-Comique in Paris, the Semperoper in Dresden, the Staatsoper in Hamburg, the Royal Opera in Copenhagen, Oper Köln, Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf, Theater Basel, Opera Graz, Residenztheater Munich, Opéra national de Lorraine, Opéra de Lausanne, Aalto-Theater Es- sen, Opernhaus Dortmund, Luzerner Theater and Hebbeltheater Berlin. In addition to his work as a director, he is also active in the field of performance art and installations. He has been nominated twice for the Faustpreis (2012 and 2014). In 2024, he received the Opera! Award for Best Scenic Designer.
At the Opéra de Lausanne: Ariadne aus Naxos (2019).